Bennett Spring Fish Hatchery Manager Ben Havens said there were fish-a-plenty waiting for anglers in a February interview.
Ahead of March 1’s opening day of catch-and-keep trout season, Havens was looking forward to the 2026 season and to the park returning to life. He said the park was still stocking fish and the opportunity to fish was great.
“I encourage everyone to come out, not only for opening day but for the 2026 fishing season,” Havens said.
Missouri State Parks notes that catch-and-keep trout fishing season runs from March 1 to Oct. 31. At Bennett Spring, the season begins at 6:30 a.m.
Havens said Sunday openers typically drew the largest crowds, and he expected that if the weather cooperated there would be a crowd of over 2,500 people in attendance, from the normal anglers to children and grandchildren arriving at the park.
He said the winter catch-and-release season went well, with the fish continually being stocked and good numbers of people. The last weekend of the catch-and-release season, he said, was very busy. The fish in the park’s waters will be supplemented with some opening day stocking.
The cold water hatchery system has continued to help the park stock quality fish with minimal disruption during the renovation process, Havens said, and he suspected that through this season, with Bennett being stocked stocked several times a week. He anticipated a good start to the catch-and-keep season.
On opening day, Havens noted Warren and Laura L. Valenti will be honored for their connection to the park, with Warren Valenti acting as the honorary starter who fires the pistol on the front stoop of the park’s nature center.
As for free fishing days, Havens noted that the day for veterans is April 18, the day for children is May 2, statewide free fishing is June 6 and 7, and the day for women is Sept. 26.
As for the hatchery renovation project, the Record previously wrote about the Missouri Department of Conservation’s announcement in January about Crossland Construction Company’s joining of the project and how they would clean up and judge the site’s situation before determining a completion date.
